Safety Thought of the Week… managing human error
“…if you do not manage human error, human error will manage the organization, always at great cost and often at great danger.” James Reason – Video Series, Managing Human Error
Safety Thought of the Week… Safety is not common sense
The appreciation that a person makes of the situation depends mainly on the following four elements: the nature of the information available personal experience, which results in personalized mental models, and a library of configurations that the brain recognizes. the purpose of his current work: if the operator is focused on the resolution of an
Demonstration of leadership for safety by managers
Managers shall demonstrate leadership for safety and commitment to safety. The senior management of the organization shall demonstrate leadership for safety by:
Understanding the CORE of a Safety Management System (SMS)
As you know by now, I am a doer, and as a safety professional, I grew up in organizations with some advanced SMS. Then the tides turned, and I was hired to come in and build an SMS and coach on building a culture of safety. Now, as a consultant, I spend a lot of
What is the Safe System Approach that U.S. DOT has adopted?
This approach will work in industrial workplaces as well! In fact, I would bet that DOT stole this approach from the industrial safety movement. Regardless of who gets credit, it is refreshing to see the transportation community embrace the Safe System Approach as an effective way to address and mitigate the risks inherent in our
Can an improperly maintained mitigation device increase risks?
I am not quite sure how so many managers/executives came to believe that an improperly maintained fire extinguisher can NEVER be an actual hazard. Most of us in the safety arena have seen the videos and news/case reports of workers dying from a catastrophic failure of a fire extinguisher. But so many managers can not
Plan-Do-Check-Act model; CHECK may be the most critical
All great Safety Management Systems of my time have been built on the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model. And although all of the stages of this PDCA model play a crucial role in the success of the SMS, the one that is most often overlooked is the CHECK stage. This CHECK is intended to validate/verify the SMS
OSHA encourages stakeholders to share feedback on effectiveness of leading indicators to improve, develop resource tool
OSHA is asking for stakeholder input on their current use of leading indicators and their impact on managing their safety and health management systems. Leading indicators are proactive and preventive measures that can provide insight into the effectiveness of safety and health activities and reveal potential problems. They are vital in reducing worker fatalities, injuries,
We can learn a lot from farming
I do not know who the original genius is that came up with these seven (7) statements, but as a safety professional, I can certainly relate. I have always said creating a culture of safety is a lot like raising children. I can now see it is also a lot like raising crops. Do not
Defending H. W. Heinrich’s work… the greatest possible accident-preventing condition
In safety, the greatest possible accident-preventing condition is that which is constituted by the regard of the individual (1) for his own wellbeing, (2) for the dependents who may suffer if he is incapacitated for work, and (3) for the losses suffered by his employer, by industry in general, and by the community and society,
Safety Thought of the Week… signals form the culture
It is impossible to change the safety culture without modifying the signals that the organization sends through the greater or lesser quality of what it offers in terms of technical design, safety management systems, and integration of human and organizational factors. Source: The ICSI “Safety Culture” working group (2017). Safety Culture: from Understanding to
Homer (800 BC) was the first Greek safety professional
Made you look! Of course, Homer was not a safety professional, but he did have a good grasp on RECOGNIZING HAZARDS and REALIZING CONSEQUENCES. Once harm has been done, even a fool understands it. Homer (800 BC)